BRYAN'S NO. 1 FAN

I got to work this morning with a funny feeling , made up of a mixture of sadness and gratitude for life.
Knowing it wouldn't have a positive work output on my job, i decided to sit calmly and ponder on my emotions for a short while.
A short while turned to a long hard thought about life and i suddenly remembered Bryan!!!

Bryan is such a powerful name; it feels my heart with loads of emotions.
Thinking back to the very first time i heard the name Bryan, i was in primary and had joined my cousin to her friend's house, they all lived inside U.S.T premises (a popular location in Port Harcourt). We were all playing in the sitting room when my cousin's friend's brother joined us. I always saw him in school, though they were younger than i in class, i didn't know his name until his mother called 'Bryan' and he responded 'yes mummy'.
I quickly looked at him and for the first time i saw all shades of cuteness in him. I kept wondering where on earth his parents got the name from. My young mind didn't know there were lots of people bearing the name Bryan all over the world. He was the first Bryan i met and the only Bryan i knew for a long time.

I fell inlove with the name instantly! Promised myself there and then i would name my first child Bryan.
Years went by and we all grew into young adults. Bryan remained my cousin's friend while i remained his fan from afar, telling everyone who cared to listen that my first child will be named Bryan.
Few years after graduation, my cousin got married and i met Bryan again after a very long time!

Everything inside of me wanted to gist with him; tell him how i fell inlove with his name, how i have been his fan all these years and how his face comes to memory whenever i hear the name Bryan.
But i didn't. I was shy (i have no idea why). He also minded his business and only said hi to me.

God decided to honor my words by blessing me with a baby boy exactly 20months ago. Oh yes! I named him Bryan!😊
On several occasions, I logged into my facebook page with the sole aim of telling Bryan how he inspired me to name my son after him but i didn't, i just didn't. I decided to wait until we meet in an occasion again or somehow bump into each other.

Then that fateful day, i opened my bbm app and was going through my contacts news. I saw his picture on my cousin's dp, i felt it was his birthday, then i saw the writeup, of how he fought a good fight and has finally gone to rest.
My heart broke.
And it's still broken.
He was less than 30years old.
I regretted not telling him all i wanted to tell him, maybe my words would have put a little smile on his face.
I remembered the day i delivered my son, his face came to mind as i named my boy Bryan. I thought of the countless times i imagined introducing my son to him and telling him the story of his name. The realization that those imaginations will nolonger come into existence brought uncontrollable tears to my eyes.
Keep resting BRYAN BRAIDE

I promise to tell you this story if we ever meet again.
Since i couldnt write you a tribute on facebook, am dropping this piece as my tribute. To also let you know that i have always been your fan and will forever be a fan of the name Bryan, because a major shareholder of my heart bears that name!

Meet my Bryan❤❤❤❤❤